By Mark Marotta
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

A newly formed club at  Ann’s Choice provides an avenue for many residents to pursue their interest in flying model airplanes.

The Silent Flyers take their name from the fact that they strictly operate electric models, which, in addition to being safe and convenient,  are far less noisy than gasoline-powered versions.

According to club member Joe Levy, the group has been in existence for just a few months.

“We are a very loosely organized club,” says fellow member Herman Birnbaum, adding there are about five or six active participants.

The group meets a couple times a week and,whenever possible, heads to a nearby vacant field to take their models to the skies. “We have fun, and it’s interesting,” Levy says.

Learning from their hobby
 Birnbaum says the purpose of the Silent Flyers is to reintroduce the hobby of model airplane flying to their neighbors at  Ann’s Choice. He recalls that many men played with model airplanes when they were young.

In fact, as a boy, Levy says he built small airplane models out of balsa wood. Now a retired electrical engineer, he adds that he later became interested in flying model airplanes with his son, but then he moved away from the hobby. “I’m really enjoying it,” says Levy.

“I’ve been doing this all of my life,” Birnbaum chimes in. “There’s always a learning experience.”

After growing tired of flying airplanes a few years ago, Birnbaum started using a helicopter instead, which he says takes a few years to master.

He adds that the hobby provides a way to learn about construction techniques, aerodynamics, manual dexterity, and meteorology. “You learn to study the wind,” he says.

Getting started
Flying model planes requires relatively few tools, such as a knife or needle-nose pliers.

“There are all kinds of ways to get into this hobby,” he adds.